Because extreme ultra violet (EUV) lithography is not ready due to technical challenges and low throughput,
we are facing severe limitation for sub-20nm node patterning even though the extreme resolution enhancement
technology (RET) such as the off-axis illumination and computational lithography have been used to achieve
enough process window and critical dimension uniformity (CDU). As an alternative solution, double patterning
technology (DPT) becomes the essential patterning scheme for the sub-20nm technology node. DPT requires the
complex design rules because DPT rules need to consider layout decomposability into two masks. In order to
improve CDU and to achieve both design rule simplicity and better designability, we propose two kinds of
layout decomposition methodologies in this paper; 1) new mandrel decomposition of the Fin generation for
better uniformity, 2) chip-level decomposition and colorless design rule of the contact to improve the
scalability. Co-optimized design rules, decomposition method and process requirement enable us to obtain about
6% scaling benefits by comparison with normal DPT flow. These DPT approaches provide benefits for both
process and design.
For low k1 lithography the resolution of critical patterns on large designs can require advanced resolution enhancement
techniques for masks including scattering bars, complicated mask edge segmentation and placement, etc. Often only a
portion of a large layout will need this sophisticated mask design (the hotspot), with the remainder of layout being
relatively simple for OPC methods to correct. In this paper we show how inverse lithography technology (ILT) can be
used to correct selected regions of a large design after standard OPC has been used to correct the simple portions of the
layout.
The hotspot approach allows a computationally intensive ILT to be used in a limited way to correct the most difficult
portions of a design. We will discuss the most important issues such as: model matching between ILT and OPC
corrections; transition region corrections near the ILT and OPC boundary region; mask complexity; total combined
runtime. We will show both simulated and actual wafer lithographic improvements in the hotspot regions.
It is well known in the industry that the technology nodes from 30nm and below will require model based SRAF / OPC
for critical layers to meet production required process windows. Since the seminal paper by Saleh and Sayegh[1][2]
thirty years ago, the idea of using inverse methods to solve mask layout problems has been receiving increasing attention
as design sizes have been steadily shrinking. ILT in its present form represents an attempt to construct the inverse
solution to a constrained problem where the constraints are all possible phenomena which can be simulated, including:
DOF, sidelobes, MRC, MEEF, EL, shot-count, and other effects. Given current manufacturing constraints and process
window requirements, inverse solutions must use all possible degrees of freedom to synthesize a mask.
Various forms of inverse solutions differ greatly with respect to lithographic performance and mask complexity. Factors
responsible for their differences include composition of the cost function that is minimized, constraints applied during
optimization to ensure MRC compliance and limit complexity, and the data structure used to represent mask patterns. In
this paper we describe the level set method to represent mask patterns, which allows the necessary degrees of freedom
for required lithographic performance, and show how to derive Manhattan mask patterns from it, which can be
manufactured with controllable complexity and limited shot-counts. We will demonstrate how full chip ILT masks can
control e-beam write-time to the level comparable to traditional OPC masks, providing a solution with maximized
lithographic performance and manageable cost of ownership that is vital to sub-30nm node IC manufacturing.
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